Counting mechanism



W. F. GRUPE;

COUNTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man NOV. 4, 1919.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

52% avwamtop W. F. GRUPE.

COUNTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NQV. 4., I919.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

2 $HEET$SHEET '2- 1 0 all whom it'may concern."

UNITED STATE-$1 Be itrknown thatI,.WILmAu:-F. GRUP'E,

a citizen'of the United States of America, residing at Hudson Heights county of'Ber gen, State of New J ersey,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counting Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a specification. e v a a This invention relates to counting mechanism for cigarette making machines and similar devices. i l r 1 An object of the invention is the provision of means for counting the number of ciga rettes produced by a cigarette making machine. A further object of the invention is to provide automatically 0 erated means for effecting the counting of t e cigarettes pro-.

duced by a cigarette making machine.

:In the more preferred forms. of the in! controlled by an element controlled by the cut-off mechanism whereby during normal operation of the machine and the production of commercially perfect cigarettes, the counter is operated incorrespondence to the number of cigarettes severed by the cut-off mechanism, Under the condition of the absence of production of commercially perfect cigarettes, the counting mechanismis rendered nonoperative. I a

Further features andobjects' of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accom panying drawings, in which F igure 1 is a top plan view showing a form of my inventlon arranged to be applied to an approved type of. cigarette makmgymachine, of which. latterthe delivery portionalone is indicated; i

2 Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective plan view of the counting mechanism of Fig. 1; operating suitable connecting means for ac- ,SPeci fication of Letters Patent. Application and November 4, .1919. .seriainohasasao.

cigarette machine un inherently PMENT OFFICE. A

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I v I i COUNTING MECHANISM.

P t te Oi f- Fig. ,3 is a diagrammatic perspective plan view, as viewed oppositely from Fig. 2, showing in particular a form of delivery control device for retarding or stopping the der the condition of ab.- normal operation; :and 1 F igs-.4= and 5 areydetail perspective .views of parts shown in the aforesaid figures.

The embodiment of the present invention is in a form suitable as an attachment to ape proved types of cigarette makingmachines now in general use, but it will be-understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment 'nor generally to forms applicable as attachments and that cigarette making machines'may be constructed or arranged to embody the present invention. Referring. to Figs. 1 and 2, the bed '1 represents the upper bed of, any approved type of cigarette making machine provided ad-. jacent the delivery end 2 thereof with the usual cut-off mechanism comprising. the rotary knife 4 mounted on the oscillating arm 5, carried by the slide 6 and controlled through the pitman 7 by the cam wheel 8, ,operatedfrom the driving shaft of the cigarette machine, whereby upon actuation of the machine, the cam wheel 8 is rotated, thereby reciprocating the slide 6 and oscillating the rotary knife 4: through its cutting stroke and simultaneously imparting the displacement of the rotary knife 4 uniformly with the formed cigarette rod, to thereby .efi'ect'a square severing of the ends of the p individual cigarettes. I

---The above construction of" the cutoff mechanism and the construction and arorapp-roved types and are not specifically a rangement of the, cigarette rod forming Jmechanism of the, machine are of the usual part of this invention, and accordinglyrdo not require detail description herein.

'1? or simplicity of operation and arrangement, I have coordinated my counting mech- .an'ism with the cut-off ,mechanism of the cigarette making machine and arranged a controlling element of my counting mechanismto be controlled bythe slide of the out off mechanism, as by mounting such control element onthe slide to be thereby reciproc'atedover the bed 1 of the cigarette making machine. Thus, upon ,operationof the cutoff mechanism, the control elementof my counting mechanism is rendered effectual in tuating the counter proper of the counting mechanism.

In the more preferred forms of my, invention, as indicated in the drawings of this 5 application, such control element of my counting mechanism is rendered ineffectual to actuate the counter proper of the counter mechanism under the condition of irregular operation or malformation in the production or interruption of the production of cigarettes by the machine, as by coordinating my counter mechanism with my delivery control device for cigarette making machines as specifically described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 326,289, filed September 25, 1919, such control device operating generally to retard or bring to rest the cigarette rod-forming mechanism or the cigarette machine as a whole under any of theaforesaid conditions of irregular operation or production. Such delivery control device is indicated generally in Fig. 1, and in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 and comprises the detecting pin yieldingly mounted in the block 11 but under action of the coiled expansive spring-12 normally holding the keeper bar 13 in elevated or non-operative position.

The keeper bar 13 is slidingly mounted within the slot 14 of the block 11 and provided with the slot 15, normally receiving the arm 16 carried by the detecting pin 10. The keeper bar 13 is further provided with a suitable lug 13 to which is attached the free end of the contractile spring 17 having its fixed end attached to the lug 18 carried by the block 11. Thus, under the condition of displacementof the detecting pin 10 under any condition of irregular operation or production, as above set forth, the keeper bar 13, upon removal of the arm '16 from its slot 15, drops and under acceleration of the spring 17 (the lug-13 passing through the open sided slot 19), and is brought upon the slide 6 of the cut-off mechanism attaining the end of its stroke of reciprocation, into operative position, whereby its lowermost end 20 encounters the rod 21 and forces the same in a direction of the arrow 22, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3,'thereby oscillating the lever23, the link 24 and the forked lug 25 attached to the control lever or clutch of the operating shaft 26 of the rod forming mechanism, thereby braking and bringing to rest the rod-forming mechanism ofthe machine. I The detection of any condition of irregular operation or abnormal production of the ci ette rod,including the variance of the 1-,. a1ette rod beyond a predetermined range of path of delivery of the-cigarette rod to the cut-ofi mechanism, is effected by the provision of the pair of detecting plates 30, .31, shownin this instance disposed respectively above and below the normal path of travel of the cigarette rod 32 from the tube belt 33 and driving wheel 34 of the rodforming mechanism to thereceiving tube 35 of the cut-off mechanism." Under the condition of regular operation or normal production of the product, the detecting plates 30, 31, are disposed at determined clearances from the cigarette rod as it is being pro- .ducedand progressed to the cut-off mechanism.

Such detecting plates 30, 31, are respec tively mounted on the arms 37, 38 pivotally mounted at 39, on a suitable pivot pin carried by the standard 40, fixed to and extending upwardly of the bed 1 of the cigarette making machine. One of said arms 37, 38, say the arm 37, is :provided with the imperforate portion 41 of determined contour and with the perforation 42 of determined contour, said perforation 42 being positioned for all normal positions ofeither or'both of the detecting plates 30, 31, in alinement with the path of reciprocation ofthe control element of the counting mechanism such as the pin 43.

Such detecting means comprising the arms 37, 38, is providedfurther with depression or recess'44, shown in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, as com prised of two depressions or recesses disposed in the respective arms 37,38, such joint depression or recess 44 being located to receive the detecting pin 10 under normal operation or production, but under abnormal operation'or production theimperforate portion 41 of arm 37 or imperforate portion 45 of the arm 38 is presented in the path of the detecting pin 10, thereby forcing said pin 10 to be displaced relatively to the block 11, and releasing the keeper bar 13, as aforesaid. 1

Such control element of my counting mechanism may be mounted similarly under control of the cut-off mechanism, as by supporting the same on the slide 6 of the cut-off mechanism and in the embodiment shown in the drawings, 1 have mounted the control pin 43 in the block 11 in which the aforesaid detecting pin 10 is likewise mounted. In juxtaposltion with the control pin 43 of the counter mechanism, and opposite thereto relative to the perforation42, I have arranged the slide 46 mounted'in the groove 47 of the standard 40, said slide 46 being pivotally connected with the lever 48, piv otally carried by the standard 40 and connected by the link 49with the oscillating arm 50 of the counter proper 51. V F

As is indicated in Fig. 1, the counter proper 51 may be mounted on the cigarette machine adjacent the delivery belt 52 receiving the individual or severed cigarettes. From the above it will be clear, under the condition of normal operation of the cigarette machine and normal production of cigarettes, the control'element 43 015 the counter mechanism enters and projects throughthe perforation 42, trips the slide 46 and thereby oscillates the arm 50 ofthe' counter proper 51in correspondence tothe rate of reciprocation of the slide 6 of the cut-off mechanism. In the approved form of cutoff mechanism in resent day use, the rate of reciprocation oi the slide 6 corresponds precisely to the rate of production and severing of the individual cigarettes, and accordingly the counter proper 51- is adjusted tov indicate unity for each stroke of oscillation of its arm 50.

In the type of cigaretterod-forming machine as shown, the seam of thecigarette paper or enveloping casing isitormed at the uppermost portion of the cigarette rod, and the detecting plate 30 is positioned above such normal path oftravel of the seamed portion of the paper, whereby under the condition of failure of the adhesive or improperlapping orunder the condition of parting of.

the seam, such detecting plates 30,31, or either of them, is displaced from normal position, causing the rotation of the perforation 42out of the path of reciprocation of the control element 43,.whereby the detecting element v43 encounters the imperforate portion 41, causing the control pin' 48 to be displaced relatively to its supporting block 11, in idle movement, against the action of its spring 52, and without tripping theslide 46 and without actuating the counter proper 51. Under such condition of irregular production of the cigarette rod 32 or other condition of irregular operation, the detecting plates 30, 31, or either of them, is displaced to thereby displace the recess 44, of my delivery control device, whereuponxthe detect ing pin. 10 of my delivery control device is actuated, causing thekeeper bar: 13 to drop and as above described, throw the clutch 26 of the rod-forming mechanism of the cigarette machine into braking or non-operatlve position. a

It will be apparent that I may employ a single pin, in substitution ofthe separate pins 10 and 43, to jointly control my counting mechanism and my delivery control mechanism, the spring of such single pin being of sufficient expansive force to with-' stand impact with the slide 46 under normal operation to actuate the counter and notwithstanding'retain the keeper bar 13 in non-operative position.

In the combination of my aforesaid counting mechanism and'my aforesaid delivery control mechanism, I provide for cessation of the actuation of the counter proper and the braking or discontinuance of the operation of the rod-forming mechanism simultaneously under the condition of malformation of the cigarette product, or interruption vot production or any other irregular operation of the rod-formingmechanism or other part of the cigarette machine.

The retractile spring fio isprovided to return theoscillating arm 50 of the counter 5].andtherewith the slide 46 into position to be engaged by the control pin 43 upon .its next reciprocation under normal operation or production of the machine.

7 It will be noted that the detecting plates are advantageously "pivotally mounted tov ens able either or both to be manually set by the operator to their respective positions of detection or to be manuallyvpla'ced in non operative position. The arms 37, 38, or either of them, are weighted or provided with a spring, as desired, to cause upward or downward displacement automatically of such armor arms 37, 38, under. the condition of the absence of the cigarette rod within the region of the detecting plate or plates 30, as when the production ofthe cigarette rod is interrupted or the cigarette rodprogressed beyond such region.

'lVhereas I have described and illustrated my inventionby reference to specific forms J "thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made rendering said counter ineffectual. under the condition. of production of abnormally formed cigarettes.

operating means being responsive to the 3. The combination with a cigarette male condition of production of a substantially rectilinearly formed cigarette rod.

4. The combination with a cigarette making machine, of a counter, a detecting ele ment controlling the operation of said counter,jsaid detecting element under the condition of normal operation of the ciga rette'making machine being disposed in a predetermined location and means respon sive to the condition of abnormal operation of the machine for moving said detecting element from said predetermined location.

5. The combination with .a cigarette making machine of a counter for indicating the number of cigarettes produced by the machine, a control element for actuating said counter in correspondence to the production of cigarettes by the machine and means responsive to the condition of irregular production of cigarettes by the machine for rendering said. control element ineffectual;

6. The combination with a cigarette making machine comprising rod-forming mechanism, of a counter, .a control element for actuating said counter and means responsive to the condition of the production of a non rectilinearly formed cigarette rod for rendering said control element ineffectual.

7. The combination with a cigarette making machine comprising rod forming mech anism, of a counter and means "for actuating said counter under the condition of normal production of the cigarette rod and means for rendering said actuating means ineffectual under the condition of abnormal production of the cigarette rod. i

8. The combination with a cigarette making machine, of a counter, a control element for actuating said counter and means re sponsive to the condition of irregular production of the cigarette rod for braking the rod forming mechanism and rendering said control element infiectual.

9. The combination with a cigarette making machine comprising a movable member operated at a substantially uniform rate of movement, of a counter, a control element for actuating said counter, means for mounting said control element on said movable member of the cigarette making machine and means for operating said counter in correspondence with said uniform rate of move ment of said movable member.

10. The combination with a cigarette making machine comprising a movable member and a rod forming mechanism, of a counter, an element for actuating said counter, said element being controlled by said movable member of the machine, means connecting said element with said counter for operating said counter under the condition of normal production of cigarettes and means for rendering said connecting means ineffectual under the condition of abnormal production of cigarettes.

11. The combination with a cigarette making machine comprising rod forming mechanism and a cut-ofi" mechanism, of a counter, an element for actuating said counter, said element'being set in motion by said cut-off mechanism, means connecting said element with said counter and means for rendering said element ineffectual to operate said counter under the condition of abnormal production of cigarettesvby said rod-forming mechanism.

l2. The combination with a cigarette making machine comprising rod forming mechanism and a cut-ottmechanism, said cut-ofi mechanism embodying a slide member, of a counter, an element for actuating said counter, said element being mounted on said slide member, means connecting said element with said counter and means for rendering said element ineffectual to operate said counter under the condition of abnormal. production of cigarettes by said rodi orming mechanism.

, 13. The combination with a cigarette making machine, of a counter, a member for actuating said counter, and means responsive to the conditions of normal and abnormal production of cigarettes by said machine, said responsive means comprising an element provided with a recess arranged in a predetermined relation with said member under condition of normal production of cigarettes and said responsive means further comprising an element for moving said recess out of saidpredetermined relation under the condition of abnormal production of cigarettes.

In testimony whereof I have signed this 8 specification this 29th day of October, 1919.

WILLIAM Fl GRUPE. 

